I’m looking for a (text) serif with as/descenders that are darker than the x-height area. I’m not even sure if such a thing excists. They must not be to obvious at close inspection, but notable in a large block of text.
Also typefaces with letters that are denser then the rest (with the same effect on text color in large blocks of text) are of interest.
Frode -- Do mean something like Koch Antiqua? Jim Spiece also did a version, called Eva, in which the weighted ascenders are even more pronounced.
Kent, Koch Antiqua and Eva are both to wierd for me. I need something with a traditional, but contemporary look.
Riccardo: Kinesis is a great suggestion, but I think I’ll need something slightly softer.
Have you looked at the darker typefaces for books thread?
I read through the thread, but couldn’t find anything on darker ascenders. I didn’t have time for all the samples. Was there something specific you were thinking about?
I guess I'm not sure exactly what you're seeking. You want ascenders that are darker than the body?
Yes.
Matthew Carter's Alisal may be suitable?
>Also typefaces with letters that are denser then the rest
Sorry, the rest of what?
Bendy: I guess I’m looking for design flaws: Letters that are denser (darker) than the other letters in the typeface, ex: a binocular g that isn’t well optically adjusted.
I’ve got an art project on the stairs with a writer friend. We’re “drawing” with text, hence I’m looking for design features that could give me some shades. We’ll use white space (paragraphs, line breaks) and italics (speach) for light shades, and capitals plus the stuff I’m requesting here for darker shades. It will be quite big, and divided in narrow coloumns allowing us to construct the sentences more carefully. It will be a real short story illustrating itself.
I know I've fairly recently seen a typeface that was designed to replicate the uneven pressure of older typewriters...the top half of most characters were slightly, but noticeably, heavier (inkier) than the bottom half. I haven't been able to find it again though.
"We’re “drawing” with text"
Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, but maybe you could work with a typeface that has a very fine gradation of weights, or even something like H&FJ's "grades", and just pop in a couple of very slightly darker letters where you need them?
Nina, thanks! That’s a good advice, but the fun part is really the constraint.
Is this effect what you meant?
Jan, the bold sans look very interesting.
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